Nonremovable cap for tubes



#11:? W BY My June 20, 1933. G E, ZAHN ET AL 1,914,765

NONREMOVABLE CAP FOR TUBES Filed May 27, 1932 6%? H 9 aw ezzam' Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. ZAIIN, OF FREEDOM, AND WALDO E. MIENGEL, F MONACA, PENNSYLVANIA NONREMOVAIBIE CAIE FOR TUBES Application filed May 27, 1932. Serial No. 613,986.

This invention relates to closure caps for collapsible tubes adapted for tooth paste, creams and like semi-liquid material andhas for the primary object, the provision of a device of the above stated character which Wlll provide an efiicient seal for the contents of the tube when closed and which may 'be readily opened to permit dispensing of the contents from the tube without being detached from the latter, thereby obviating dropping or losing of the cap or closure during handling or use of the device.

With this and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of our invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevatlon illustrating a collapsible tube with a closure or cap applied thereto and constructed in 2 accordance with our invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the same with the closure or cap in sealing position.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the cap or closure in an opened position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the retaining lugs positioned to permit sliding movement of the cap or closure for opening the tube.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the tube with a modified form of seat for the closure or cap to engage.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating the closure or cap.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the retaining lugs struck from the closure or cap.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the cap or closure seated against the form of seat shown in Figure 6.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a collapsible tube designed for containing semi-liquids or paste and is provided with an integral neck 2 hav- 1. The neck extends slightly downwardly in the tube and its lower end has formed thereon oppositely disposed cam faces 4 arranged between the grooves. Each cam face is communicative at its low side with the groove 3 while its high side has formed thereon a shoulder or stop 5.

A closure or cap 6 consists of a head 7 of a diameter greater than the diameter of the neck 2 and has formed integrally therewith a hollow sleeve 8 slidably received in the neck and provided adjacent the head 7 with a discharge opening 9 of any desired shape. Tongues 10 are struck out from the lower portion of the sleeve and slide within the grooves 3, for the purpose of preventing the sleeve from withdrawing entirely from the neck but which will permit said sleeve to move outwardly of the neck sufiiciently to expose the discharge opening 9 whereby the contents of the tube may be dispensed by the usual squeezing or collapsing of the latter. The under face of the head 7 adjacent the sleeve 8 is provided with a groove 11 of substantially V-shape in cross section to provide oppositely inclined faces for the purpose of engaging the inner and outer edges of the neck 2 for establishing an air tight seal between the head and the neck to prevent the evaporation of the contents of the tube. The head 7 when in engagement with the end of the neck positions the discharge opening within the neck and the tongues 10 move outwardly of the grooves and by rotating the head said tongues ride upon the cam faces drawing the head tightly against the neck to effectively seal the tube. The rotation of the head 7 to seal the tube is limited by the tongues 10 engaging the stops 5. -From the foregoing it will be seen that the contents of the tube are sealed against evaporation when the head 7 is in engagement with the neck and that the head 7 may be easily moved away from the neck. sliding the sleeve in the neck to expose the discharge opening 9, whence the contents of the tube may be expelled in the usual manner.

The neck 2 may have a bevelled seat 12 as shown in Figure 6 to be engaged by a bevelled ortion 13 formed on the head 7 as shown in igure 9 to efiectively seal the contents of the tube when the head is in engagement with the neck.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it

will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our lnvention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: g

1. A collapsible tube closure including a a neck having grooves, a cap having a cylindrical portion slidable in the neck and provided with a discharge port normally closed by the walls of the neck, lugs on the cylindrical portion of the cap and fitting in the grooves to permit the cap to be moved a limited distance from said neck to open the port, and cam faces on the neck to be engaged by said lugs for drawing the cap in tight en agement with the neck during the rotation o 7 said cap. 2..A collapsible tube closure including a 30 neck having grooves, a cap having a cylindrical portion slidable in the neck and provided with a discharge ort normally closed by the walls of the nec ,lugs on the cylindrical portion of the cap and fitting in the 85 grooves to permit the cap to be moved a limited distance from said neck to open the port, cam faces on the neck to be engaged by said lugs for drawing the cap in tight engagement with the neck during the rotation of the cap in one direction, and stops on the cams to be engaged by the lugs for limiting the rotation of the cap in said direction.

3. A'collapsible tube closure including a neck having grooves, a sleeve slidable in the 4 neck and having a discharge port, a head closing the outer end of the sleeve and having a groove providing oppositely bevelled faces to engage opposite edges of the neck to form a seal between said head and neck, lugs on the sleeve and received by the grooves, and cam faces on the neck to be engaged by the lugs when moved out of the grooves and during the rotation of the head for drawing the latter in tight engagement withthe neck. In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

GEORGE E. ZAHN. 'WALDO E. MENGEL. 

